(23 April 2012 – Oahu, Hawaii)
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While the end result makes it look like a comprehensive victory, it was anything but easy for Ai Miyazato in winning the inaugural LPGA LOTTE Championship on Saturday. A final round of 2-under par 70 saw Miyazato finish at 12-under, four shots clear of Spain’s Azahara Munoz and South Korea’s Meena Lee.
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rnMiyazato, Rolex World No.8 before this week, started the final day at 10-under par, a three shot cushion over Munoz and America’s Cristie Kerr, with a group of five players one shot back on 6-under and by no means out of the running.
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rnBy the time the leading groups had made the turn, Munoz had made up the deficit and was tied for the lead, while Lee was just a shot behind after both players had played the front nine in 3-under par. Three holes later and that situation had reversed, Munoz making bogey on No.10 and Miyazato adding a bogey on the 12th hole. Lee’s birdie on 10 saw her in the lead with 6 holes to play, a phenomenal comeback after finishing her opening round at 2-over par.
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rnHowever, for Lee and Munoz it was not to be as the experience of Miyazato shone through down the stretch. She picked up birdies on the 13th (to rejoin the lead), the 15th and the 17th to race away with the title. Munoz could only make bogey at the 14th while Lee did the same to surrender the lead. She added a birdie on 15 but a costly double bogey on the 18th saw her slip back to a tie for second.
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rnThe win was Miyazato’s 8th on the LPGA and she moved to second on the money list behind Yani Tseng, with season earnings of $629,783. After her win she said, “It’s so nice, I have been playing so well this year. So I’m very happy right now that I won this. My mum was here, and my auntie was here, so it was very special time. It couldn’t be better.”
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rnKarrie Webb was once again the best of the Australian contingent finishing in a tie for 12th at 3-under par. She was followed by Lindsey Wright (T27) and Katherine Hull (33rd) who had strong final rounds of 67 and 69 respectively. Wendy Doolan (T646) also made the cut.